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Tag: settlement

  • Palestinians oppose Israeli efforts to seize West Bank heritage sites

    Palestinians oppose Israeli efforts to seize West Bank heritage sites

    A Palestinian boy rides a scooter among archaeological ruins in the ancient village of Sebastia, near Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, June 4, 2026.— Reuters/File

    An Israeli proposal to extend civil control over historical sites in the West Bank has faced opposition from Palestinians and human rights organizations within Israel. Critics argue the legislation resembles a move to annex occupied territory and could facilitate further Jewish settlements.

    The “Heritage Authority in Judea and Samaria” bill was approved in one of three votes by Israel’s parliament in May. It remains uncertain whether the final vote will occur before lawmakers disband ahead of an anticipated election on October 27.

    The bill aims to transfer management of sites from the Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader periods under Israeli Ministry of Heritage authority, permitting expropriation and purchase of land across the West Bank—which Israel refers to by its Hebrew biblical name. This shift would effectively diminish oversight of certain ancient locations previously managed by the Palestinian Authority, which has limited self-governance under the 1990s Oslo Accords in parts of the West Bank, territory Israel has occupied since 1967.

    Hani Al-Hayek, the Palestinian Authority’s tourism minister, stated, “Controlling these antiquities is intended to increase dominance and expand settlements deep into Palestinian territory.” Israel states that the bill is designed to safeguard historical sites.

    Village near the historic site of Sebastia faces potential land seizure

    Peace Now, an organization monitoring Israeli settlements, called the bill a “completely annexationist move” that would result in widespread confiscation of Palestinian land. While using archaeology as a means to justify settlement expansion isn’t new, Peace Now emphasized that the current measures by the Israeli government are unprecedented in scope.

    A case in point is the Palestinian village of Sebastia in the northern West Bank, where residents—many with roots tracing back centuries—depend heavily on tourism linked to a nearby archaeological site. Archaeologists identify this site as containing relics from the 9th-century BC Israelite kingdom, along with remnants from Roman, Byzantine, Crusader, and Ottoman eras. It is currently under consideration for UNESCO World Heritage status.

    In late 2025, Israel announced plans to seize approximately 1,800 dunams (about 445 acres) at Sebastia, citing development projects. Village officials report that this action would impact around 5,000 olive trees cultivated in the area.

    Sebastia’s Deputy Mayor, Nizar Kayed, commented, “They are claiming areas with water sources, roads, and historical sites, leaving us without vital resources. This is part of their settlement expansion effort.” Since late 2023, local tourism has declined, partly due to regional conflicts, affecting businesses like Nahed Sakha’s restaurant, which sits on land slated for confiscation.

    “The Israeli plan appears aimed at disconnecting the archaeological site from the local community,” Sakha added.

    Israel points to historical and biblical connections to justify its actions

    Israeli parliament member Zvi Sukkot, a proponent of the bill, asserts that expanding Israeli control over these sites is meant to protect relics dating back to biblical times. “This doesn’t alter the legal status of Judea and Samaria,” he told Reuters.

    He added, “Many are uncomfortable with our effort to demonstrate the ties between the people of Israel and this land. All the biblical stories and our history originate in Judea and Samaria.” Sukkot belongs to the religious Zionist party that supports settlements and opposes the creation of a Palestinian state, favoring annexation instead.

    International bodies and most nations regard Israel’s settlements as illegal under international law, particularly citing the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits relocating civilians into occupied territories. Israel disputes this, asserting that the West Bank is disputed land inherited from biblical and historical claims and citing security concerns.

    The new bill has also alarmed some Israeli legal officials and scientists. The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities issued an open letter to Netanyahu and Sukkot, urging its withdrawal. They warned that the legislation could harm Israel’s international reputation in archaeology and other scientific fields.

  • Trump Admin Drops Cases Against Adani After $10bn Investment pledge

    Trump Admin Drops Cases Against Adani After $10bn Investment pledge

    The Trump administration has announced plans to drop criminal fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, while also reaching a settlement over alleged violations of Iran sanctions involving one of his companies, court documents reveal.

    This development comes after Adani’s legal counsel—who also serves as a personal lawyer for former President Donald Trump—stated last month that Adani intended to invest $10 billion in the U.S. but couldn’t proceed with the investments until the legal issues were resolved, according to an insider familiar with the situation.

    This move exemplifies a pattern where the Justice Department, under Trump, has chosen to abandon high-profile cases initiated during his predecessor Joe Biden’s administration.

    Gautam Adani, a prominent supporter of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has an estimated net worth of $82 billion, according to Forbes magazine.

    Previously, he was charged with conspiring to pay $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials to secure approval for the development of India’s largest solar power plant. Prosecutors alleged that Adani and his associates raised over $3 billion by concealing corrupt activities from lenders and investors.

    The Adani Group has strongly denied any wrongdoing. Adani himself is both the founder and chairman of the company.

    Separately, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) settled a civil lawsuit with Adani over accusations related to a scheme to bribe Indian officials, court records show last week. However, the settlement is pending court approval.

  • UN Rights Office: Israeli Settlement Plan Violates International Law

    UN Rights Office: Israeli Settlement Plan Violates International Law

    A flag representing Israel waves in the foreground, with the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim visible in the background, located in the Israeli-controlled West Bank on August 14, 2025. — Reuters

    – Israeli minister promises the project will “eliminate” the concept of a Palestinian state.
    – United Nations warns that the plan will divide the West Bank into separate, isolated areas.
    – Approximately 700,000 Israeli settlers reside among 2.7 million Palestinians in the region.

    The UN Human Rights Office announced on Friday that Israel’s proposal to construct thousands of new homes between an established settlement in the West Bank and near East Jerusalem is illegal under international law. They also stated that the plan could force Palestinians to face eviction, which they characterized as a war crime.

    On Thursday, Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich committed to pushing forward a long-delayed settlement initiative, claiming it would effectively “bury” the idea of establishing a Palestinian state.

    The UN human rights spokesperson indicated that this plan would fragment the West Bank into disconnected enclaves and emphasized that it is “a war crime for an occupying power to transfer its own civilians into the territory it occupies.” Currently, about 700,000 Israeli settlers live amid 2.7 million Palestinians across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1980—a move most countries do not recognize—though it has not officially extended sovereignty over the West Bank.

    Most countries believe that expanding settlements undermines the prospects of a two-state solution by dividing the territory Palestinians envision for an independent state. That framework proposes a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, all existing alongside Israel—the territories captured during the 1967 Middle East conflict.

    Israel claims historical and biblical ties to the land, asserting that settlements enhance its strategic depth and security. The Israeli government also states that the West Bank is “disputed territory,” not “occupied.”

  • Columbia University to pay $200M to settle Trump investigation costs

    Columbia University to pay $200M to settle Trump investigation costs

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    Recently, Columbia University announced that it will be paying over $200 million to the U.S. government as part of a settlement reached with the Trump administration. This settlement aims to resolve federal investigations and restore most of the university’s suspended federal funding.

    Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, he has targeted several universities, especially in connection with protests by pro-Palestinian student groups that disrupted campuses last year. The university’s support for the agreement was shared by Trump himself, who posted about it on social media late Wednesday.

    Back in March, the Trump administration highlighted Columbia University as a target for sanctions, citing the decision to cancel $400 million in federal funding. They claimed that Columbia’s response to allegations of antisemitism and harassment toward Jewish and Israeli students was inadequate.

    According to Columbia, the new agreement will see most of the federal grants that were cut or paused in March 2025 being reinstated. This means the university’s access to billions of dollars in current and future federal funds will be restored. Additionally, Columbia will settle investigations with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by paying $21 million. The university emphasized that the settlement allows it to maintain control over faculty hiring, admissions, and academic decisions.

    Following the funding suspension, Columbia agreed to several conditions earlier this year, including increased scrutiny of Middle Eastern studies courses and other concessions. These measures sparked criticism from academics across the U.S. who viewed them as an infringement on scholarly independence.

    Recently, Columbia adopted a contentious new definition of antisemitism that equates it with opposition to Zionism, which drew further controversy. The university also announced it would no longer cooperate with the pro-Palestinian group Columbia University Apartheid Divest.

    Pro-Palestinian activists condemned the settlement, viewing it as a bribe that effectively silences criticism of Israel and pays Trump millions of dollars. Demonstrators on campus are calling for an end to U.S. support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza and are demanding that the university stop investing in companies that support Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.

    U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that Columbia has agreed to implement several changes, including disciplining students responsible for major disruptions, restructuring their Faculty Senate, promoting diverse viewpoints within Middle Eastern studies, eliminating race-conscious hiring and admissions practices, and ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

    Critics argue that the government’s framing of pro-Palestinian protests as antisemitic is overly broad. Many protesters, including some Jewish groups, say their criticisms of Israeli policies are being unfairly conflated with hatred or extremism.

    Just a day before, Columbia had disciplined several students involved in a recent pro-Palestinian demonstration that resulted in their seizing the university’s main library.

    The settlement also requires Columbia to conduct a thorough review of its international admissions policies. Within 30 days, the university must appoint an official accountable to the president to oversee compliance with these new directives, including investigating and addressing issues related to antisemitism.

    Furthermore, the university will designate an additional administrator to explore allegations of antisemitism and suggest appropriate actions.

    Meanwhile, former President Trump has attempted to leverage federal funding policies against other institutions, such as Harvard University. His administration has also tried to deport international pro-Palestinian students, including some at Columbia, though these efforts have faced legal challenges. Advocates for student rights highlight concerns over due process, academic freedom, and free speech amidst these actions.

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  • Paramount and Trump Reach $16M Settlement over ‘60 Minutes’ Interview

    Paramount and Trump Reach $16M Settlement over ‘60 Minutes’ Interview

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    Donald Trump in Florida, June 14, 2024. — Reuters

    • Settlement reached as Paramount gets ready for merger.
    • Trump initiated a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS last October.
    • No formal apology or acknowledgment of wrongdoing was included in the settlement.

    NEW YORK: Paramount, the parent company of CBS, announced on Wednesday that it has settled a lawsuit brought by former President Donald Trump, stemming from a controversial interview that was aired in October. This marks yet another instance of a media company conceding to a president who has frequently criticized news outlets for what he believes is inaccurate reporting.

    As part of the settlement, Paramount will pay $16 million, which will go towards funding Trump’s future presidential library. However, the company made it clear that this money will not be given to Trump “either directly or indirectly.”

    “The settlement does not include any statement of apology or regret,” the company added in its statement.

    Trump had previously filed a lawsuit seeking $10 billion in damages from CBS, claiming the network edited the interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris aired on its “60 Minutes” program in a way that unfairly favored the Democratic Party during the election. In a subsequent amendment submitted in February, Trump increased his damage claim to $20 billion.

    The lawsuit alleged that CBS presented two different versions of the Harris interview, where she seemed to provide inconsistent answers to the same question regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to documents filed in federal court in Texas.

    To date, CBS asserted that the lawsuit was “entirely baseless” and requested that a judge dismiss the case.

    There has been no immediate comment from the White House regarding a request for clarification from Reuters. Additionally, Edward A. Paltzik, the attorney representing Trump in this civil matter, was unreachable for comments.

    A spokesperson for Paramount’s Chair, Shari Redstone, was also not available for a statement.

    Negotiations for mediation began in April.

    Trump contended that CBS’s editing of the interview breached the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits engaging in false, misleading, or deceptive practices in trade.

    Media advocacy groups have cautioned that Trump’s novel application of such laws against media organizations may pose a risk to press freedom, as it challenges the traditional legal protections that shield news outlets from being held liable for defamation claims made by public figures unless they intentionally disseminated false information.

    This settlement occurs as Paramount is gearing up for an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, a deal that will need approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.

    During his campaign last year, Trump suggested he might pursue the revocation of CBS’s broadcast license if he were elected.

    Trump has consistently criticized the media, often labeling unfavorable stories as “fake news.”

    The agreement with Paramount follows a similar resolution by Walt Disney-owned ABC News, which opted to settle a defamation case initiated by Trump. As part of that agreement, revealed on December 14, the network contributed $15 million to Trump’s presidential library and publicly apologized for inaccurate remarks made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, who had mistakenly stated that Trump was liable for rape.

    Another recent settlement occurred when Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta Platforms, agreed on January 29 to pay around $25 million to resolve a lawsuit filed by Trump regarding the suspension of his accounts following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

    Trump has expressed intentions to continue pursuing legal claims against the media.

    On December 17, he filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register newspaper and its leading pollster regarding a poll published on November 2 that indicated Harris was ahead of Trump by three percentage points in Iowa. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and demands that the Des Moines Register cease any “ongoing deceptive and misleading acts and practices” concerning polling.

    A representative of the Des Moines Register maintained that the organization stands by its reporting, characterizing the lawsuit as lacking merit.

    On June 30, Trump withdrew the federal lawsuit and reintroduced it in an Iowa state court.

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  • Dr. Samad Khan Resolves $3.5M Allegations of False Claims in U.S.

    Dr. Samad Khan Resolves $3.5M Allegations of False Claims in U.S.

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    American-Pakistani physician Dr. Samad Khan has agreed to pay $3.5 million to the United States to settle allegations under the False Claims Act in the Eastern District of Texas, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs on Friday.

    According to the Department of Justice, Dr. Samad, a medical doctor, has consented to this payment to settle claims that he knowingly submitted or facilitated the submission of fraudulent claims that were not fulfilled.

    From approximately May 2020 to April 2022, the Uninsured Program reimbursed eligible healthcare providers for COVID-19 tests, related items and services, treatments, and vaccines provided to uninsured individuals.

    Dr. Samad owns SK Primary Care, PLLC, a medical clinic located in Frisco, Texas. During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), SK Primary Care offered healthcare services that included specimen collection for COVID-19 testing.

    The recent settlement addresses accusations that between April 2020 and October 2021, Dr. Samad knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false claims to the Uninsured Program, billing for evaluation and management services (E/M Services) that were never rendered.

    The U.S. government claims that throughout the PHE, SK Primary Care operated numerous COVID-19 testing locations across Texas, most of which were walk-up or drive-through sites.

    Patients could sign up for testing at these sites through the website “GoGetTested.Com.”

    The government alleges that medical assistants staffed the COVID-19 testing sites, conducting specimen collection via nasal swabs for the tests.

    Dr. Samad was aware that the correct CPT codes for the services offered at these sites were for specimen collection. However, he instead submitted claims using CPT codes for higher-level E/M services.

    The U.S. asserts that patients who visited these testing sites were never seen by Dr. Samad or any qualified healthcare provider (QHP), and there were no E/M services provided to patients either in person or through audiovisual means.

    During the period between April 2020 and October 2021, Dr. Samad allegedly submitted around 400,000 claims for higher-level E/M services to the Uninsured Program, most of which were categorized as level 2 and level 3 services.

    Furthermore, it is claimed that Dr. Samad and the management company of SK Primary Care intentionally misclassified the specimen collection services as higher-level E/M services, allowing for significantly higher reimbursement rates.

    Additionally, in coordination with the clinic’s management company, Dr. Samad and SK Primary Care often submitted two claims for E/M services related to COVID-19 tests—one for the initial test and another for communicating results.

    However, the second claim for results was typically handled by an employee or contractor, like nurse practitioners or medical assistants. They would convey results through a scripted courtesy call, often without having any audiovisual interaction with the patients. In many cases, results were merely emailed or texted to patients.

    As a consequence of the fraudulent claims for E/M services that were not performed, Dr. Samad received payments from the Uninsured Program that he was not entitled to.

    Jay R. Combs, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, noted, “The COVID-19 pandemic required increased trust in frontline healthcare providers. Unfortunately, some of these providers exploited that trust, profiting unethically during a crisis, and the Eastern District of Texas will hold them accountable.”

    Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), emphasized that false claims undermine public trust and misallocate taxpayer resources.

    “This settlement underscores our commitment to protecting taxpayer funds and collaborating with law enforcement to hold accountable those who exploit the American public,” Meadows remarked.

    The resolution was achieved through a coordinated effort involving the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, along with assistance from HHS-OIG.

    A senior American-Pakistani doctor in Florida, who is affiliated with APPNA, explained that Dr. Samad is of Pakistani heritage. Another American-Pakistani physician in Texas expressed that Dr. Samad should be considered innocent, stating that there are various factors that could justify the incurred amount.

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